Drive system seal

ABSTRACT

A pump for dispensing a fluid from a reservoir provides a drive system seal within the pump. The pump includes a reservoir cavity adapted to receive the reservoir, and a drive system. The pump also includes at least one plunger slider having one end coupled to the drive system and the other end coupled to the reservoir. The plunger slider is adapted to translate from a retracted position to an extended position to dispense the fluid from the reservoir in response to actuation by the drive system. The pump further includes a sealing ring mounted around the plunger slider, and a spring disposed within the sealing ring. The sealing ring with the spring disposed therein is adapted to allow the plunger slider to translate from the retracted position to the extended position, and to prevent entry of fluid from the reservoir cavity into the drive system.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/698,783, filed Oct. 27, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,071,which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/429,352, filed Oct. 28, 1999 and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,093 issuedJun. 19, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to improvements in infusion pumps suchas those used for controlled delivery of medication to a patient.Additionally, this invention relates to an improved drive system sealfor use in such infusion pumps.

2. Description of the Related Art

Infusion pump devices and systems are relatively well-known in themedical arts, for use in delivering or dispensing a prescribedmedication such as insulin to a patient. In one form, such devicescomprise a relatively compact pump housing adapted to receive a syringeor reservoir carrying a prescribed medication for administration to thepatient through infusion tubing and an associated catheter or infusionset.

The infusion pump includes a small drive motor connected via a leadscrew assembly for motor-driven advancement of a reservoir piston toadminister the medication to the user. Programmable controls can operatethe drive motor continuously or at periodic intervals to obtain aclosely controlled and accurate delivery of the medication over anextended period of time. Such infusion pumps are used to administerinsulin and other medications, with exemplary pump constructions beingshown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,562,751; 4,678,408; 4,685,903;5,080,653 and 5,097,122, which are incorporated by reference herein.

Infusion pumps of the general type described above have providedsignificant advantages and benefits with respect to accurate delivery ofmedication or other fluids over an extended period of time. The infusionpump can be designed to be extremely compact as well as water resistant,and may thus be adapted to be carried by the user, for example, by meansof a belt clip or the like. As a result, important medication can bedelivered to the user with precision and in an automated manner, withoutsignificant restriction on the user's mobility or life-style, includingin some cases the ability to participate in water sports.

These pumps often incorporate a drive system which uses a lead screwcoupled to motors. The motors can be of the DC, stepper or solenoidvarieties. These drive systems provide an axial displacement of thesyringe or reservoir piston thereby dispensing the medication to theuser. Powered drive systems are advantageous since they can beelectronically controlled to deliver a predetermined amount ofmedication by means well known in the art.

In the operation of these pump systems, the reservoir piston will befully advanced when virtually all of the fluid in the reservoir has beendispensed. Correspondingly, the axial displacement of the motor leadscrew is also typically fully displaced. In order to insert a newreservoir which is full of fluid, it is necessary to restore the leadscrew to its original position. Thus the lead screw will have to berewound or reset.

DC motors and stepper motors are advantageous over solenoid motors inthat the former are typically easier to operate at speeds that allowrewinding the drive system electronically. Solenoid based drive systems,on the other hand, often must be reset manually, which in turn makeswater resistant construction of the pump housing more difficult.

Lead screw drive systems commonly use several gears which are externalto the motor. FIG. 1 shows such a lead screw arrangement which is knownin the art. A motor 101 drives a lead screw 102 which has threads whichare engaged with a drive nut 103. Thus the rotational force of the leadscrew 102 is transferred to the drive nut 103 which causes it to move inan axial direction d. Because the drive nut 103 is fixably attached to areservoir piston 104 by a latch arm 110, it likewise will be forced inan axial direction d′, parallel to direction d, thus dispensing thefluid from a reservoir 105 into an infusion set 106. The lead screw 102is mounted on a bearing 111 which provides lateral support. The leadscrew 102 extends through the bearing and comes in contact with theocclusion detector 108. One known detector uses an “on/off” pressurelimit switch.

Should an occlusion arise in the infusion set 106 tubing, a backpressure will build up in the reservoir 105 as the piston 104 attemptsto advance. The force of the piston 104 pushing against the increasedback pressure will result in an axial force of the lead screw 102driving against the detector 108. If the detector 108 is a pressurelimit switch, then an axial force that exceeds the set point of thepressure limit switch 108 will cause the switch to close thus providingan electrical signal through electrical leads 109 and to the system'selectronics. This, in turn, can provide a system alarm. The entireassembly can be contained in a water resistant housing 107.

FIG. 2 shows a different drive system and lead screw arrangement whichalso is known in the art. In this arrangement, a motor 201 (or a motorwith an attached gear box) has a drive shaft 201 a which drives a set ofgears 202. The torque is then transferred from the gears 202 to a leadscrew 203. The threads of the lead screw 203 are engaged with threads[not shown] in a plunger slide 204. Thus the torque of the lead screw203 is transferred to the slide 204 which causes it to move in an axialdirection d′, parallel to the drive shaft 201 a of the motor 201. Theslide 204 is in contact with a reservoir piston 205 which likewise willbe forced to travel in the axial direction d′ thus dispensing fluid froma reservoir 206 into an infusion set 207. The lead screw 203 is mountedon a bearing 209 which provides lateral support. The lead screw 203 canextend through the bearing to come in contact with an occlusion detector210. As before, if the detector 210 is a pressure limit switch, then anaxial force that exceeds the set point of the pressure limit switch 210will cause the switch to close thus providing an electrical signalthrough electrical leads 211 and to the system's electronics. This, inturn, can provide a system alarm. The assembly can be contained in awater resistant housing 208.

As previously noted, these lead screw drive systems use gears which areexternal to the motor. The gears are in combination with a lead screwwith external threads which are used to drive the reservoir's piston.This external arrangement occupies a substantial volume which canincrease the overall size of the pump. Moreover, as the number of drivecomponents, such as gears and lead screw, increases, the torque requiredto overcome inherent mechanical inefficiencies can also increase. As aresult, a motor having sufficient torque also often has a consequentdemand for increased electrical power.

Yet another known drive is depicted in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b. A reservoir301 fits into the unit's housing 302. Also shown are the piston member303 which is comprised of an elongated member with a substantiallycircular piston head 304 for displacing the fluid in the reservoir 301when driven by the rotating drive screw 305 on the shaft (not visible)of the drive motor 306.

As is more clearly shown in FIG. 3 b, the reservoir 301, piston head 304and piston member 303 comprise an integrated unit which is placed intothe housing 302 (FIG. 3 a). The circular piston head 304 displaces fluidin the reservoir upon axial motion of the piston member 303. Therearward portion of the piston member 303 is shaped like a longitudinalsegment of a cylinder as shown in FIG. 3 b and is internally threaded sothat it may be inserted into a position of engagement with the drivescrew 305. The drive screw 305 is a threaded screw gear of a diameter tomesh with the internal threads of the piston member 303. Thus the motor306 rotates the drive screw 305 which engages the threads of the pistonmember 303 to displace the piston head 304 in an axial direction d.

While the in-line drive system of FIG. 3 a achieves a more compactphysical pump size, there are problems associated with the design. Thereservoir, piston head and threaded piston member constitute anintegrated unit. Thus when the medication is depleted, the unit must bereplaced. This results in a relatively expensive disposable item due tothe number of components which go into its construction.

Moreover the drive screw 305 and piston head 304 of FIG. 3 a are notwater resistant. Because the reservoir, piston head and threaded pistonmember are removable, the drive screw 305 is exposed to the atmosphere.Any water which might come in contact with the drive screw 305 mayresult in corrosion or contamination which would affect performance orresult in drive failure.

The design of FIG. 3 a further gives rise to problems associated withposition detection of the piston head 304. The piston member 303 can bedecoupled from the drive screw 305. However, when another reservoirassembly is inserted, it is not known by the system whether the pistonhead 304 is in the fully retracted position or in some intermediateposition. Complications therefore are presented with respect toproviding an ability to electronically detect the position of the pistonhead 304 in order to determine the extent to which the medication inreservoir 301 has been depleted.

The construction of pumps to be water resistant can give rise tooperational problems. As the user travels from various elevations, suchas might occur when traveling in an air plane, or as the user engages inother activities which expose the pump to changing atmosphericpressures, differential pressures can arise between the interior of theair tight/water-resistant pump housing and the atmosphere. Should thepressure in the housing exceed external atmospheric pressure, theresulting forces could cause the reservoir piston to be driven inwardthus delivering unwanted medication.

Thus it is desirable to have an improved, compact, water resistant drivesystem which permits safe user activity among various atmosphericpressures and other operating conditions. Moreover it is desirable tohave improved medication reservoir pistons for use with such drivesystems.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved apparatus fordispensing a medication fluid from a reservoir adapted to contain thefluid. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, theapparatus includes a reservoir cavity adapted to receive the reservoir,a drive system, and at least one plunger slider. One end of the at leastone plunger slider is coupled to the drive system, and the other end ofthe at least one plunger slider is releasably coupled to the reservoir.Also, the at least one plunger slider is adapted to translate from aretracted position to an extended position to dispense the fluid fromthe reservoir in response to actuation by the drive system. Theapparatus further includes a sealing ring mounted around the at leastone plunger slider, and a spring disposed within the sealing ring. Thesealing ring with the spring disposed therein is adapted to allow the atleast one plunger slider to translate from the retracted position to theextended position, and also to prevent entry of fluid from the reservoircavity into the drive system.

In particular embodiments, the sealing ring may be formed from Teflon orplastic. In other particular embodiments, the spring may be a leafspring or a canted coil spring.

The sealing ring may have a proximate side and a distal side, with theproximate side being adjacent to the reservoir cavity. In someembodiments, the distal side of the sealing ring defines an openingleading into a cavity, and the spring is inserted into the cavity in thesealing ring. In alternative embodiments, the proximate side defines anopening leading into a cavity, and the spring is inserted into thecavity in the sealing ring. In further alternative embodiments, thesealing ring has no openings, and the spring is enclosed within thesealing ring.

In other embodiments, the drive system includes a drive motor and adrive gear. The drive gear is positioned to be rotatably actuated by thedrive shaft of the drive motor. Additionally, the drive gear hasinternal threads, and the at least one plunger slider has externalthreads positioned to be engaged by the internal threads of the drivegear. The at least one plunger slider is adapted to be linearly actuatedby rotation of the internal threads of the drive gear. In alternativeembodiments, the drive gear has external threads, and the at least oneplunger slider has internal threads positioned to be engaged by theexternal threads of the drive gear. The at least one plunger slider isadapted to be linearly actuated by rotation of the external threads ofthe drive gear. In yet other alternative embodiments, the drive systemincludes a drive motor having a rotating drive shaft, and a gearboxcoupled to the drive shaft of the drive motor. The at least one plungerslider is coupled to the gearbox and adapted to translate from theretracted position to the extended position in response to rotation ofthe drive shaft of the drive motor.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, anapparatus for dispensing a medication fluid from a reservoir adapted tocontain the fluid includes a reservoir cavity adapted to receive thereservoir, a drive motor, a drive gear, and at least one plunger slider.The drive gear is coupled to the drive motor and adapted to be rotatablyactuated by the drive motor. One end of the at least one plunger slideris coupled to the drive gear, and the other end of the at least oneplunger slider is releasably coupled to the reservoir. Also, the atleast one plunger slider is adapted to translate from a retractedposition to an extended position to dispense the fluid from thereservoir in response to rotation by the drive gear. The apparatusfurther includes a sealing ring mounted around the at least one plungerslider, and a spring disposed within the sealing ring. The sealing ringwith the spring disposed therein is adapted to allow the at least oneplunger slider to translate from the retracted position to the extendedposition, and also to prevent entry of fluid from the reservoir cavityinto the drive system.

In particular embodiments, the sealing ring may be formed from Teflon orplastic. In other particular embodiments, the spring may be a leafspring or a canted coil spring.

The sealing ring may have a proximate side and a distal side, with theproximate side being adjacent to the reservoir cavity. In someembodiments, the distal side of the sealing ring defines an openingleading into a cavity, and the spring is inserted into the cavity in thesealing ring. In alternative embodiments, the proximate side defines anopening leading into a cavity, and the spring is inserted into thecavity in the sealing ring. In further alternative embodiments, thesealing ring has no openings, and the spring is enclosed within thesealing ring.

In other embodiments, the drive gear has internal threads, and the atleast one plunger slider has external threads positioned to be engagedby the internal threads of the drive gear. The at least one plungerslider is adapted to be linearly actuated by rotation of the internalthreads of the drive gear. In alternative embodiments, the drive gearhas external threads, and the at least one plunger slider has internalthreads positioned to be engaged by the external threads of the drivegear. The at least one plunger slider is adapted to be linearly actuatedby rotation of the external threads of the drive gear.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, variousfeatures of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of embodiments of the invention will be made withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designatecorresponding parts in the several figures.

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a conventional lead-screw drive mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a another conventional lead-screw drivemechanism.

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of another conventional lead-screw drivemechanism.

FIG. 3 b shows the details of a disposable reservoir with the piston anddrive member withdrawn of the lead-screw drive mechanism of FIG. 3 a.

FIG. 4 is a side plan, cut-away view of a drive mechanism in a retractedposition in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the in-line drive mechanism of FIG. 4outside of the housing.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away perspective view of the drive mechanism of FIG. 4in a retracted position.

FIG. 7 a is a side plan, cut-away view of the drive mechanism of FIG. 4in an extended position.

FIG. 7 b is a cut-away perspective view of the drive mechanism of FIG. 4in an extended position.

FIG. 8 is a cut-away perspective view of an anti-rotation device for usewith the drive mechanism shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a segmented (or telescoping) leadscrew in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10 a, 10 b and 10 c are cross-sectional views of variousembodiments of venting ports for use with the drive mechanism of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a reservoir and plungerslide assembly.

FIG. 12 is a partial, cross sectional view of a reservoir and areservoir connector.

FIGS. 13 a and 13 b are plunger slide force profile diagrams.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of a reservoir, a piston, and an insert.

FIG. 15 a is a perspective view of a reservoir piston.

FIG. 15 b is an elevation view of the reservoir piston of FIG. 15 a.

FIG. 15 c is a cross-sectional view of the piston along lines 15 c—15 cof FIG. 15 b.

FIG. 16 a is a perspective view of a piston insert.

FIG. 16 b is a top plan view of the piston insert of FIG. 16 a.

FIG. 16 c is a cross-sectional view of the insert along lines 16 c—16 cof FIG. 16 b.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a reservoir, reservoir piston, andinsert.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a piston and piston insertaccording to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings which form a part hereof and which illustrate severalembodiments of the present inventions. It is understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and structural and operational changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the present inventions.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, some aspects ofthe present inventions are directed to a drive mechanism for an infusionpump for medication or other fluids. In preferred embodiments, areleasable coupler couples an in-line drive to a plunger or piston of areservoir to dispense fluids, such as medications, drugs, vitamins,vaccines, hormones, water or the like. However, it will be recognizedthat further embodiments of the invention may be used in other devicesthat require compact and accurate drive mechanisms. Details of theinventions are further provided in co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/429,352 filed Oct. 29, 1999, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/106,237 filed Oct. 29, 1998, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

In addition, the reservoir piston includes features which providegreater stiffness against fluid back pressure thus reducing systemcompliance. The piston further includes a threaded attachment featurewhich permits a releasable yet secure coupling between the reservoirpiston and the in-line drive.

FIG. 4 shows a side plan, cut-away view of an infusion pump drivemechanism according to one embodiment of the inventions, in which ahousing 401, containing a lower section 402 for a power supply 420 andelectronic control circuitry 422, accommodates a driving device, such asa motor 403 (e.g., a solenoid, stepper or DC motor), a first drivemember, such as an externally threaded drive gear or screw 404, a seconddrive member, such as an internally threaded plunger gear or slide 405,and a removable vial or reservoir 406. The reservoir 406 includes aplunger or piston assembly 407 with O-rings or integral raised ridgesfor forming a water and air tight seal. The reservoir 406 is securedinto the housing 401 with a connector 431 which also serves as theinterface between the reservoir 406 and the infusion set tubing (notshown). In one embodiment, the reservoir piston assembly 407 is coupledto a linear actuation member, such as the plunger slide 405, by areleasable coupler. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupler includesa female portion 424 which receives a male portion 426 carried by theplunger slide 405. The female portion 424 is positioned at the end face428 of the piston assembly 407 and includes a threaded cavity whichengages the threads of a male screw extending from the end 430 of theplunger slide 405.

While certain embodiments of the present inventions are directed todisposable, pre-filled reservoirs, alternative embodiments may userefillable cartridges, syringes or the like. The cartridge can bepre-filled with insulin (or other drug or fluid) and inserted into thepump. Alternatively, the cartridge could be filled by the user using anadapter handle on the syringe-piston. After being filled, the handle isremoved (such as by unscrewing the handle) so that the cartridge can beplaced into the pump.

Referring again to FIG. 4, as the drive shaft 432 of the motor 403rotates, the drive screw 404 drives the plunger slide 405 directly toobtain the axial displacement against the reservoir piston assembly 407to deliver the predetermined amount of medication or liquid. When usinga DC or stepper motor, the motor can be rapidly rewound when thereservoir is emptied or as programmed by the user.

A sealing device 409 is adapted to be slidably mounted around theplunger slide 405, and allows the plunger slide 405 to move axially froma retracted position shown in FIG. 6 to a fully extended position inFIG. 7 b, while maintaining a water resistant barrier between the cavity601 holding the reservoir 406 and the motor 403. This prevents fluidsand other contaminants from entering the drive system. In particularembodiments, the sealing device 409 may be a ring or collar 409,preferably formed from Teflon, plastic, or the like. The ring 409 has aproximate side 409 a and a distal side 409 b. The proximate side 409 aof the ring 409 is adjacent to the cavity 601 holding the reservoir 406,and is adapted to maintain the water resistant barrier between thecavity 601 holding the reservoir 406 and the motor 403. The distal side409 b of the ring 409 may have an opening leading into a cavity (notshown), and a spring 409 c (FIG. 7 a) such as a leaf spring, canted coilspring, or the like may be inserted into the cavity. Such springs areavailable from Bal Seal Engineering Co. Inc. and/or Parker HannifinCorporation. Alternatively, the distal side 409 b of the ring 409 mayhave no opening, but the proximate side 409 a of the ring 409 may havean opening leading into a cavity (not shown), and a spring 409 c (FIG. 7a) such as a leaf spring, canted coil spring, or the like may beinserted into the cavity. In further alternative embodiments, the distalside 409 b of the ring 409 may have no opening, and the leaf spring,canted coil spring, or the like may be encased or enclosed within thering 409. In other particular embodiments, the sealing device 409 may bean O-ring 409 formed from rubber or the like.

However, the ring with the leaf spring, canted coil spring, or the likeinserted therein is preferred over the O-ring. As described in greaterdetail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/819,208 filed Mar. 27,2001, and now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,465, and Ser. No. 09/428,411filed Oct. 28, 1999, and now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,591, which areherein incorporated by reference, the pump may have an occlusiondetection system that includes a sensor (not shown), which uses theaxial force on the plunger slide 405 as an indicator of pressure withinthe reservoir 406. Generally during fluid delivery, as the drive systemexerts force on the plunger slide 405 to obtain axial displacementagainst the piston assembly 407 within the reservoir 406, thecorresponding force on the sensor temporarily increases. As the fluid isdelivered from the reservoir 406, the force on the sensor returns to asimilar level as measured before fluid delivery was initiated.

When the plunger slide 405 is initially coupled to the reservoir pistonassembly 407 within the reservoir 406 (e.g., after insertion of a newlyfilled or replacement reservoir 406), the drive system exerts force onthe plunger slide 405 to obtain axial displacement through the O-ringand against the piston assembly 407. However, the O-ring tends to deformor displace, and as a result, the force exerted by the drive systeminitially does not obtain any axial displacement of the plunger slide405 against the piston assembly 407. Several rotations of the motor 403are initially required, and the force on the sensor continues toincrease, before the force exerted by the drive system begins to obtainany axial displacement of the plunger slide 405 through the O-ring andagainst the piston assembly 407. Thus, this configuration is subject toan initial buildup of force on the sensor before the plunger slide 405is axially displaced against the piston assembly 407, and the fluid isdelivered from the reservoir 406.

By contrast, the ring with the leaf spring, canted coil spring, or thelike inserted therein does not deform or displace. Consequently, as thedrive system exerts force on the plunger slide 405, the plunger slide405 is axially displaced through the ring and against the pistonassembly 407. Thus, the ring with the leaf spring, canted coil spring,or the like inserted therein is not subject to an initial buildup offorce on the sensor before the force exerted by the drive system on theplunger slide 405 obtains axial displacement against the piston assembly407 within the reservoir 406, and the fluid is delivered from thereservoir 406. As a result, there is a better correlation between thepressure in the reservoir 406 and the force exerted on the sensor, whichallows the use of more robust methods to detect an occlusion within thepump (for example, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/819,208 filed Mar. 27, 2001, and now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,465,which is herein incorporated by reference) and also reduces the amountof time required for the system to detect an occlusion within the pump.

An anti-rotation key 410 is affixed to the plunger slide 405 and issized to fit within a groove (not shown) axially disposed in the housing401. This arrangement serves to prevent motor and plunger slide rotationwhich might otherwise result from the torque generated by the motor 403in the event that the friction of the sealing device 409 is notsufficient alone to prevent rotation.

The motor 403 is a conventional motor, such as a DC or stepper motor,and is journal mounted in the housing 401 by a system compliancemounting 412. A system compliance mount can be useful in aiding motorstartup. Certain types of motors, such as stepper motors, may require agreat deal of torque to initiate rotor motion when the rotor's initialat-rest position is in certain orientations with respect to the motor'shousing. A motor which is rigidly mounted may not have enough power todevelop the necessary starting torque. Including system compliancemounting permits the motor housing to turn slightly in response to highmotor torque. This alters the orientation between the rotor and thehousing such that less torque is required to initiate rotor motion. Acompliance mount can include a rubberized mounting bracket.Alternatively, the mounting could be accomplished using a shaft bearingand leaf spring or other known compliance mountings.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the in-line drive mechanism of FIG. 4outside of the housing. The plunger slide 405 (internal threads notshown) is cylindrically shaped and has the screw-shaped male portion 426of the coupler attached to one end thereof. The anti-rotation key 410 isaffixed to the opposite end of the slide 405. The drive screw 404 is ofsuch a diameter as to fit within and engage the internal threads of theplunger slide 405 as shown in FIG. 4. A conventional gear box 501couples the drive screw 404 to the drive shaft 432 of the motor 403.

FIGS. 4 and 6 show the infusion pump assembly with the plunger slide 405in the retracted position. The reservoir 406 which may be full ofmedication or other fluid is inserted in a reservoir cavity 601 which issized to receive a reservoir or vial. In the retracted position, theplunger slide 405 encloses the gear box 501 (not visible in FIG. 6)while the drive screw 404 (not visible in FIG. 6) remains enclosedwithin the plunger slide 405 but is situated close to the coupler.

The motor 403 may optionally include an encoder (not shown) which inconjunction with the system electronics can monitor the number of motorrotations. This in turn can be used to accurately determine the positionof the plunger slide 405 thus providing information relating to theamount of fluid dispensed from the reservoir 406.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b show the infusion pump assembly with the plunger slide405 in the fully extended position. In this position, the plunger slide405 has withdrawn from over the gear box 501 and advanced into thereservoir 406 behind the reservoir piston assembly 407. Accordingly, theplunger slide 405 is sized to fit within the housing of the reservoir406, such that when the reservoir piston assembly 407 and the plungerslide 405 are in the fully extended position as shown, the reservoirpiston assembly 407 has forced most, if not all, of the liquid out ofthe reservoir 406. As explained in greater detail below, once thereservoir piston assembly 407 has reached the end of its travel pathindicating that the reservoir has been depleted, the reservoir 406 maybe removed by twisting such that the threaded reservoir piston assembly407 (not shown in FIG. 7 b) disengages from the male portion 426 of thecoupler.

In one embodiment, the motor drive shaft 432, gear box 501, drive screw404, and plunger slide 405 are all coaxially centered within the axis oftravel 440 (FIG. 4) of the reservoir piston assembly 407. In certain ofthe alternative embodiments, one or more of these components may beoffset from the center of the axis of travel 440 and yet remain alignedwith the axis of travel which has a length which extends the length ofthe reservoir 406.

FIG. 8 is a cut away perspective view of an anti-rotation device. Theanti-rotation key 410 consists of a ring or collar 442 with tworectangular tabs 436 which are spaced 180° apart. Only one tab isvisible in FIG. 8. The ring portion 442 of the key 410 surrounds and isattached to the end of the plunger slide 405 which is closest to themotor. Disposed in the housing 401 are two anti-rotation slots 434, onlyone of which is visible in FIG. 8. The anti-rotation slots 434 are sizedto accept the rectangular tabs of the key 410. As the plunger slide 405moves axially in response to the motor torque as previously described,the slots 434 will permit the key 410 to likewise move axially. Howeverthe slots 434 and the tabs 436 of the key 410 will prevent any twistingof the plunger slide 405 which might otherwise result from the torquegenerated by the motor.

FIG. 9 illustrates a split lead-screw (or plunger slide) design for usewith a pump drive mechanism. The use of a split lead-screw ortelescoping lead screw allows the use of an even smaller housing for thedrive mechanism. A telescoping lead-screw formed from multiple segmentsallows the pump to minimize the dimensions of the drive mechanism, ineither in-line or gear driven drive mechanisms.

An interior shaft 901 is rotated by a gear 906 which is coupled to adrive motor (not shown). This in turn extends a middle drive segment 902by engaging with the threads of an internal segment 904. The middlesegment 902 carries an outer segment 903 forward with it in direction das it is extended to deliver fluid. When the middle segment 902 is fullyextended, the internal segment 904 engages with a stop 905 on the middlesegment 902 and locks it down from pressure with the threads between themiddle and internal segments. The locked middle segment 902 then rotatesrelative to the outer segment 903 and the threads between the middlesegment 902 and the outer segment 903 engage to extend the outer segment903 in direction d to its full length.

The use of multiple segments is not limited to two or three segments;more may be used. The use of three segments reduces the length of theretracted lead-screw portion of the drive mechanism by half. Inalternative embodiments, the outer segment may be connected to the motorand the inner segment may be the floating segment. In preferredembodiments, rings 907 with leaf springs, canted coil springs, or thelike inserted therein as shown and described above in the embodiments ofFIGS. 4 and 6–7 b, or O-rings 907, are used to seal each segmentrelative to the other and to form a seal with the housing to maintainwater sealing and integrity.

As previously noted, the construction of these pumps to be waterresistant can give rise to operational problems. As the user engages inactivities which expose the pump to varying atmospheric pressures,differential pressures can arise between the interior of the airtight/water-resistant housing and the atmosphere. Should the pressure inthe housing exceed external atmospheric pressure, the resulting forcescould cause the reservoir piston to be driven inward thus deliveringunwanted medication. On the other hand, should the external atmosphericpressure exceed the pressure in the housing, then the pump motor willhave to work harder to advance the reservoir piston.

To address this problem, a venting port is provided which resists theintrusion of moisture. Referring to FIG. 7 b, venting is accomplishedthrough the housing 401 into the reservoir cavity 601 via a vent port605. The vent port can be enclosed by a relief valve (not shown) orcovered with hydrophobic material. Hydrophobic material permits air topass through the material while resisting the passage of water or otherliquids from doing so, thus permitting water resistant venting. Oneembodiment uses a hydrophobic material such as Gore-Tex®, PTFE, HDPE,UHMW polymers from sources such as W.I. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff,Ariz., Porex Technologies, Fairburn, Ga., or DeWAL Industries,Saunderstown, R.I. It is appreciated that other hydrophobic materialsmay be used as well.

These materials are available in sheet form or molded (press andsintered) in a geometry of choice. Referring to FIGS. 10 a–10 c,preferred methods to attach this material to the housing 401 includemolding the hydrophobic material into a sphere 1001 (FIG. 10 a) or acylinder 1002 (FIG. 10 b) and pressing it into a cavity in thepre-molded plastic housing. Alternatively, a label 1003 (FIG. 10 c) ofthis material could be made with either a transfer adhesive or heat bondmaterial 1004 so that the label could be applied over the vent port 605.Alternatively, the label could be sonically welded to the housing. Ineither method, air will be able to pass freely, but water will not.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the vent port could be placedin the connector 431 which secures the reservoir 406 to the housing 401and which also serves to secure and connect the reservoir 406 to theinfusion set tubing (not shown). As described in greater detail inco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/428,818 filed on Oct. 28,1999, which application is incorporated by reference in its entirety,the connector and infusion set refers to the tubing and apparatus whichconnects the outlet of the reservoir to the user of a medicationinfusion pump.

An advantage of placing the vent port and hydrophobic material in thislocation, as opposed to the housing 401, is that the infusion set isdisposable and is replaced frequently with each new reservoir or vial ofmedication. Thus new hydrophobic material is frequently placed intoservice. This provides enhanced ventilation as compared with theplacement of hydrophobic material in the housing 401. Material in thislocation will not be replaced as often and thus is subject to dirt oroil build up which may retard ventilation. In yet another alternativeembodiment however, vent ports with hydrophobic material could be placedin both the pump housing and in the connector portion of the infusionset.

Regardless of the location of the vent port, there remains thepossibility that the vent port can become clogged by the accumulation ofdirt, oil, etc. over the hydrophobic material. In another feature ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, the releasable coupler canact to prevent unintentional medication delivery in those instances whenthe internal pump housing pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure.Referring to FIG. 11, the coupler includes threads formed in a cavitywithin the external face of the reservoir piston assembly 407. Thethreaded cavity 424 engages the threads of the male portion 426 which inturn is attached to the end 430 of the plunger slide 405.

This thread engagement reduces or prevents the effect of atmosphericpressure differentials acting on the water resistant, air-tight housing401 (not shown in FIG. 11) from causing inadvertent fluid delivery. Thethreads of the male portion 426 act to inhibit or prevent separation ofthe reservoir piston assembly 407 from the plunger slide 405 which, inturn, is secured to the drive screw 404 (not shown in FIG. 11) byengagement of the external threads of the drive screw 404 with theinternal threads of the plunger slide 405. As a result, the couplerresists movement of the reservoir piston assembly 407 caused byatmospheric pressure differentials.

When the reservoir 406 is to be removed, it is twisted off of thecoupler male portion 426. The system electronics then preferably causethe drive motor 403 to rapidly rewind so that the plunger slide 405 isdriven into a fully retracted position (FIGS. 4 and 6). A new reservoir406, however, may not be full of fluid. Thus the reservoir pistonassembly 407 may not be located in the furthest possible position fromthe reservoir outlet. Should the reservoir piston assembly 407 be insuch an intermediate position, then it may not be possible to engage thethreads of the male portion 426 of the coupler (which is in a fullyretracted position) with those in the female portion 424 of the couplerin the reservoir piston assembly 407 upon initial placement of thereservoir.

In accordance with another feature of certain embodiments, theillustrated embodiment provides for advancement of the plunger slide 405upon the insertion of a reservoir into the pump housing. The plungerslide 405 advances until it comes into contact with the reservoir pistonassembly 407 and the threads of the coupler male portion 426 of thecoupler engage the threads in the female portion 424 in the reservoirpiston assembly 407. When the threads engage in this fashion in theillustrated embodiment, they do so not by twisting. Rather, they rachetover one another.

In the preferred embodiment, the threads of the coupler male portion 426have a 5 start, 40 threads per inch (“TPI”) pitch or profile while thethreads of the coupler female portion 424 have a 2 start, 40 TPI pitchor profile as illustrated in FIG. 11. Thus these differing threadprofiles do not allow for normal tooth-to-tooth thread engagement.Rather, there is a cross threaded engagement.

The purpose of this intentional cross threading is to reduce the forcenecessary to engage the threads as the plunger slide 405 seats into thereservoir piston assembly 407. In addition, the 2 start, 40 TPI threadsof the coupler female portion 424 are preferably made from a rubbermaterial to provide a degree of compliance to the threads. On the otherhand, the 5 start, 40 TPI threads of the male coupler portion 426 arepreferably made of a relatively hard plastic. Other threadingarrangements and profiles could be employed resulting in a similareffect.

If on the other hand, the threads had a common thread pitch with anequal number of starts given the same degree of thread interference(i.e., the OD of the male feature being larger than the OD of the femalefeature), then the force needed to insert the male feature would bepulsatile. Referring to FIG. 13 a, as each thread tooth engages the nexttooth, the insertion force would be high as compared to the point wherethe thread tooth passes into the valley of the next tooth. But with thecross threaded arrangement of the preferred embodiment, not all of thethreads ride over one another at the same time. Rather, they ratchetover one another individually due to the cross-threaded profile. Thisarrangement results in less force required to engage the threads whenthe plunger slide moves axially, but still allows the reservoir toeasily be removed by a manual twisting action.

While the advantage of utilizing a common thread pitch would be toprovide a maximum ability to resist axial separation of the reservoirpiston assembly 407 from the plunger slide 405, there are disadvantages.In engaging the threads, the peak force is high and could result inexcessive delivery of fluids as the plunger slide 405 moves forward toseat in the cavity of the reservoir piston assembly 407. As described ingreater detail in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/428,411filed on Oct. 28, 1999, which application is incorporated by referencein its entirety, the pump may have an occlusion detection system whichuses axial force as an indicator of pressure within the reservoir. Ifso, then a false alarm may be generated during these high forceconditions.

It is desirable therefore to have an insertion force profile which ispreferably more flat than that shown in FIG. 13 a. To accomplish this,the cross threading design of the preferred embodiment causes therelatively soft rubber teeth of the female portion 424 at the end of thereservoir piston assembly 407 to rachet or swipe around the relativelyhard plastic teeth of the coupler resulting in a significantly lowerinsertion force for the same degree of thread interference (See FIG. 13b). This is due to the fact that not all of the thread teeth ride overone another simultaneously. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of thethreads are ramped. This makes it easier for the threads to ride overone another as the plunger slide is being inserted into the reservoirpiston. However, the flat opposite edge of the thread profile makes itmuch more difficult for the plunger slide to be separated from thereservoir piston.

When the plunger slide is fully inserted into the reservoir piston, theslide bottoms out in the cavity of the piston. At this point thepresence of the hydraulic load of the fluid in the reservoir as well asthe static and kinetic friction of the piston will act on the plungerslide. FIG. 13 b shows the bottoming out of the plunger slide against apiston in a reservoir having fluid and the resulting increase in theaxial force acting on the piston and the plunger slide. This hydraulicload in combination with the static and kinetic friction is so muchhigher than the force required to engage the piston threads that such adisparity can be used to advantage.

The fluid pressure and occlusion detection systems described in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/243,392 filed Oct. 26,2000, or in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/428,411 filedOct. 28, 1999, both of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties, or known pressure switch detectors, such as thoseshown and described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, can be used todetect the fluid back pressure associated with the bottoming out of theplunger slide against the piston. A high pressure trigger point of sucha pressure switch or occlusion detection system can be set at a pointabove the relatively flat cross thread force as shown in FIG. 13 b.Alternatively, the ramping or the profiles of such back pressure forcescan be monitored. When an appropriate limit is reached, the pump systemelectronics can send a signal to stop the pump motor. Thus the pumpdrive system is able to automatically detect when the plunger slide hasbottomed out and stop the pump motor from advancing the plunger slide.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the 5 start, 40 TPI (0.125″ lead) threadprofile of the coupler male portion 426 was chosen in consideration ofthe thread lead on the preferred embodiment of the connector 431. Theconnector 431 is secured into the pump housing with threads 433 (FIG. 7b) having a 2 start, 8 TPI (0.250″ lead) profile. Therefore the 0.250″lead on the connector is twice that of the reservoir piston assembly 407which is 0.125″. This was chosen to prevent inadvertent fluid deliveryduring removal of the reservoir from the pump housing, or alternatively,to prevent separation of the reservoir piston assembly 407 from thereservoir 406 during removal from the pump housing. When the connector431 is disengaged from the pump, the connector 431 as well as thereservoir 406 will both travel with the 0.250″ lead. Since the threadedcoupler lead is 0.125″, the plunger slide 405 will disengage somewherebetween the 0.125″ lead of the threaded coupler and the 0.250″ lead ofthe infusion set 1103. Therefore, the rate that the reservoir pistonassembly 407 is removed from the pump is the same down to half that ofthe reservoir 406/connector 431. Thus any medication which may bepresent in the reservoir 406 will not be delivered to the user.Additionally, the length of the reservoir piston assembly 407 issufficient such that it will always remain attached to the reservoir 406during removal from the pump. Although the preferred embodimentdescribes the plunger slide 405 having a coupler male portion 426 withan external thread lead that is different from the connector 431, thisis not necessary. The thread leads could be the same or of an incrementother than what has been described.

The 2 start thread profile of the coupler female portion 424 on thereservoir piston assembly 407 of the preferred embodiment providesanother advantage. Some versions of these reservoirs may be designed tobe filled by the user. In such an instance, a linear actuation membercomprising a handle (not shown) will need to be screwed into thethreaded portion of the reservoir piston assembly 407 in order for theuser to retract the reservoir piston assembly 407 and fill thereservoir. The number of rotations necessary to fully insert the handledepends upon the distance the handle thread profile travels to fullyengage the reservoir piston assembly 407 as well as the thread lead.

For example, a single start, 40 TPI (0.025″ lead) thread requires 4complete rotations to travel a 0.10″ thread engagement. However, a 2start, 40 TPI (0.050″ lead) thread only requires 2 complete rotations totravel the 0.10″ thread engagement. Therefore, an additional advantageof a 2 start thread as compared to a single start thread (given the samepitch) is that half as many rotations are needed in order to fully seatthe handle.

In alternative embodiments which are not shown, the end of the plungerslide 405 may include a détente or ridge to engage with a correspondingformation in the reservoir piston assembly 407 to resist unintendedseparation of the plunger slide 405 from the reservoir piston assembly407. In other embodiments, the plunger slide 405 is inserted and removedby overcoming a friction fit. Preferably, the friction fit is secureenough to resist movement of the reservoir piston assembly 407 relativeto the plunger slide 405 due to changes in air pressure, but low enoughto permit easy removal of the reservoir 406 and its reservoir pistonassembly 407 from the plunger slide 405 once the fluid has beenexpended. In other embodiments, the détente or ridge may be springloaded or activated to grasp the reservoir piston assembly 407 once thedrive mechanism has been moved forward (or extended), but is retractedby a switch or cam when the drive mechanism is in the rearmost (orretracted) position. The spring action could be similar to those used oncollets. In other embodiments of the inventions, the threaded couplermay be engaged with the threaded cavity of the reservoir piston bytwisting or rotating the reservoir as it is being manually placed intothe housing.

As previously mentioned, some pump systems may have an occlusiondetection system which uses the axial force on the drive train as anindicator of pressure within a reservoir. One problem faced by suchocclusion detection systems, however, is the system complianceassociated with reservoir fluid back pressures. As previously mentioned,the force on a piston assembly resulting from increased back pressurescan deform a piston which is constructed of relatively flexible materialsuch as rubber. Should an occlusion arise in the fluid system, thisdeformation can reduce the rate at which fluid back pressures increase.This in turn can increase the amount of time required for the system todetect an occlusion—a situation which may be undesirable.

To address this problem, an insert 1201 which is made of hard plastic,stainless steel or other preferably relatively stiff material isdisposed in the upper portion of the reservoir piston assembly 407.(FIG. 12) The insert 1201 of the illustrated embodiment providesstiffness to the rubber reservoir piston assembly 407. This can reduceundesirable compliance which is associated with the reservoir.

FIG. 14 shows an industry standard reservoir 406 and the piston assembly407 comprising a piston member 1404 and an insert 1201. One end of thereservoir 406 has a generally conical-shaped end portion 1401 whichtapers to a neck 1402. A swage 1403 is secured to the neck therebyforming a fluid-tight seal. The insert 1201 is placed in the cavity 424of the piston member 1404 which in turn is placed in the opposite end ofthe reservoir 406.

FIGS. 15 a and 15 b show the piston member 1404 which is adapted toreceive the insert 1201 (FIG. 14). The piston member 1404 is furtheradapted to be slidably mounted within the reservoir 1401 and to form afluid-tight barrier therein. The exterior of the piston member 1404includes a generally cylindrical side wall 1502 and an externalproximate side 1501 having a generally conical convex shape which isadapted to conform to the conical-shaped end portion 1401 of thereservoir 406 (FIG. 14). This geometry reduces the residual volume offluid remaining in the reservoir 406 after the piston assembly 407 isfully advanced. The piston member's side wall 1502 has a plurality ofridges 1503 which form a friction fit with the interior of the reservoirside wall thereby forming a fluid-resistant seal.

Referring to FIG. 15 c, the piston member 1404 has an external distalside 1505 which is opposite to the external proximate side 1501 which inturn is adapted to contact any fluid which might be present in thereservoir. The external distal side 1505 has an opening 1506 leadinginto the threaded cavity 424. The cavity 424 comprises a first chamber1508 extending from the external distal side 1505 into the cavity 424and a second chamber 1509 extending from the first chamber 1508 to aninternal proximate wall 1510 which is disposed adjacent to the externalproximate side 1501 of the piston member 1404.

The first chamber 1508 is defined by a generally cylindrically-shapedfirst wall 1511 extending axially from the external distal side 1505into the cavity 424. The first wall 1511 includes threads 1504 formed onthe wall which are adapted to couple with any linear actuator member,such as for example, the threads of the male portion 426 of the plungerslide 405 as previously described (FIG. 11). The second chamber 1509 isdefined by a generally cylindrically-shaped second wall 1512 extendingaxially from the generally cylindrically-shaped first wall 1511 into thecavity 424 and by the internal proximate wall 1510. The generallycylindrically-shaped second wall 1512 has a radius which is greater thanthat of the generally cylindrically-shaped first wall 1511. A ledge 1513extends from the generally cylindrically-shaped first wall 1511 to thegenerally cylindrically-shaped second wall 1512. The internal proximatewall 1510 forms the end of the second chamber 1509 and is generallyconcave conical in shape. Thus the thickness of that portion of thefirst member which is between the internal proximate wall 1510 and theexternal proximate side 1501 is generally uniform.

Referring to FIGS. 16 a–16 c, the insert 1201 is a solid member whichhas a planar back wall 1602, a generally cylindrical side wall 1603, anda conical face portion 1601 which terminates in a spherically-shaped endportion 1604. In one embodiment, the planar back wall 1602 is 0.33inches in diameter, the cylindrical side wall 1603 is approximately0.054 inches in length, the conical face portion 1601 is approximately0.128 inches in length, and the spherically-shaped end portion 1604 hasa radius of curvature of approximately 0.095 inches.

The face portion 1601 and the end portion 1604 are adapted to mate withthe internal proximate wall 1510 and the back wall 1602 is adapted toseat against the ledge 1513 of the piston member 1404 (FIG. 15 c). Wheninserted, the insert face portion 1601 and the external proximate side1501 are in a generally parallel spaced-apart relationship. The insert1201 is a relatively incompressible member which can be made ofstainless steel or relatively stiff plastic or any other material whichpreferably has stiffness properties which are greater than that of theexternal proximate side 1501 of the piston member 1404. If a hardplastic material is selected, however, it preferably should be a gradeof plastic which can withstand the high temperatures associated with anautoclave.

FIG. 17 shows the reservoir 406 with the piston member 1404 and theinsert 1201 as assembled. As previously mentioned, the ledge 1513supports the planar back 1602 of the insert 1201 and secures it intoplace. Because the piston member 1404 is constructed of rubber or otherrelatively flexible material, it can deflect sufficiently duringassembly to permit the insert 1201 to be inserted in the opening 1506and through the first chamber 1508 and then positioned in the secondchamber 1509. The conical face portion 1601 of the insert 1201 mateswith the internal proximate wall 1510 of the piston member 1404 thuspermitting a reduced thickness of rubber which is in direct contact withfluid 1701. This reduced thickness of rubber or other flexible materialminimizes the compliance which might otherwise be caused by the backpressure of the fluid 1701 acting on the external proximate side 1501 ofthe piston member 1404.

It should be appreciated that although the insert member 1201 depictedin FIGS. 14–17 is removable from the piston member 1404, alternativeembodiments of the present invention include a piston assembly in whichthere are no openings or open cavities and in which an insert member isencased in such a manner so as to be not removable.

The insert member of the above-described embodiments is not adapted tocontact the fluid in a reservoir. However, FIG. 18 shows yet anotheralternative embodiment where a portion of an insert member is adapted tocontact reservoir fluid. A piston assembly 1801 comprises a pistonmember 1802 and an insert 1803. The piston member 1802 is adapted to beslidably mounted within a reservoir (not shown in FIG. 18) and isfurther adapted to form part of a fluid-tight barrier within thereservoir. The piston member 1802 has an external proximate side 1804and an external distal side 1805. The external proximate side 1804 isadapted to contact the reservoir fluid and is made of an elastomericmaterial, such as rubber.

The insert 1803 is substantially contained within the piston member 1802and has a face 1806 which is made of a material, such as stainless steelor hard plastic, having a stiffness which is greater than that of thepiston member 1802. The insert face 1806 has an exposed portion 1807 andan enclosed portion 1808. The exposed portion 1807 is adapted to contactthe fluid within the reservoir whereas the enclosed portion 1808 isenclosed or covered by the external proximate side 1804 of the pistonmember 1802. Therefore, the insert 1803 extends past the externalproximate side of the piston member 1802 and is adapted for contact withthe fluid to complete the fluid-tight barrier within the reservoir. Thusthe arrangement of the insert 1803 in this fashion provides thenecessary stiffness to the piston assembly 1801 to reduce systemcompliance.

It should be appreciated that while the piston members and insertsdescribed above include conical geometries, other geometries can beused. For example in an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 11, aninsert 1102 has a disc shape with relatively flat faces. This also canprovide the necessary stiffness to the piston assembly 407 to reducesystem compliance.

In yet further embodiments (not shown), an insert member is an integralpart of a male portion of a plunger slide assembly which is adapted tofit within a piston assembly cavity. The male portion of the slideassembly (i.e., the insert member) is further adapted to abut aninternal proximate wall within the cavity thus providing increasedstiffness to that portion of the piston assembly which is in contactwith reservoir fluid.

It can be appreciated that the design of FIGS. 4–18 results in anarrangement where the plunger slide 405 is reliably but releasablycoupled to the drive screw 404. When it is time to replace the reservoir406, it can be detached from the male end of the coupler withoutaffecting the plunger/drive screw engagement. Moreover in oneembodiment, the plunger slide 405 is shaped as a hollow cylinder withinternal threads. Thus it completely encircles and engages drive screw404. When the plunger slide 405 is in a relatively retracted position,it encloses any gears which couple the motor 403 with the drive screw404 thus achieving an extremely compact design. A vent port coveredwith-hydrophobic material as well as a threaded coupler provideredundant means for permitting exposure of the pump to changingatmospheric pressures without the unintended delivery of medication. Areservoir piston assembly 407 includes an insert member 1201 whichincreases the stiffness of the piston assembly 407 thus reducing fluidsystem compliance.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of thepresent inventions, it will be understood that many modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claimsare intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the truescope and spirit of the present inventions. The presently disclosedembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the inventions beingindicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description,and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

1. An apparatus for dispensing a medication fluid from a reservoiradapted to contain the fluid, the apparatus comprising: a reservoircavity adapted to receive the reservoir; a drive system; at least oneplunger slider having one end coupled to the drive system and the otherend releasably coupled to the reservoir, wherein the at least oneplunger slider is adapted to translate from a retracted position to anextended position to dispense the fluid from the reservoir in responseto actuation by the drive system; a sealing ring mounted around the atleast one plunger slider; and a spring disposed within the sealing ring,wherein the sealing ring with the spring disposed therein is adapted toallow the at least one plunger slider to translate from the retractedposition to the extended position and to prevent entry of fluid from thereservoir cavity into the drive system.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the sealing ring is formed from Teflon.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the sealing ring is formed from plastic.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring is a leaf spring.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring is a canted coil spring.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing ring has a proximate side anda distal side, the proximate side being adjacent to the reservoircavity, and the distal side defining an opening leading into a cavity,wherein the spring is inserted into the cavity in the sealing ring. 7.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing ring has a proximate sideand a distal side, the proximate side being adjacent to the reservoircavity and defining an opening leading into a cavity, wherein the springis inserted into the cavity in the sealing ring.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the spring is enclosed within the sealing ring.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises: a drive motor;and a drive gear positioned to be rotatably actuated by the drive motor,said drive gear having external threads; wherein the at least oneplunger slider has internal threads positioned to be engaged by theexternal threads of the drive gear and is adapted to be linearlyactuated by rotation of the external threads of the drive gear.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises: a drive motorhaving a rotating drive shaft; and a gearbox coupled to the drive shaftof the drive motor; and wherein the at least one plunger slider iscoupled to the gearbox and adapted to translate from the refractedposition to the extended position in response to rotation of the driveshaft of the drive motor.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the atleast one plunger slider substantially radially surrounds at least aportion of a length of the gearbox when the at least one plunger slideris in the refracted position.
 12. An apparatus for dispensing amedication fluid from a reservoir adapted to contain the fluid, theapparatus comprising: a reservoir cavity adapted to receive thereservoir; a drive motor; a drive gear coupled to the drive motor andadapted to be rotatably actuated by the drive motor; at least oneplunger slider having one end coupled to the drive gear and the otherend releasably coupled to the reservoir, wherein the at least oneplunger slider is adapted to be linearly actuated from a retractedposition to an extended position to dispense the fluid from thereservoir in response to rotation by the drive gear; a sealing ringmounted around the at least one plunger slider; and a spring disposedwithin the sealing ring, wherein the sealing ring with the springdisposed therein is adapted to allow the at least one plunger slider totranslate from the refracted position to the extended position and toprevent entry of fluid from the reservoir cavity into the drive system.13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sealing ring is formed fromTeflon.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sealing ring isformed from plastic.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the springis a leaf spring.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the spring is acanted coil spring.
 17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sealingring has a proximate side and a distal side, the proximate side beingadjacent to the reservoir cavity, and the distal side defining anopening leading into a cavity, wherein the spring is inserted into thecavity in the sealing ring.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein thesealing ring has a proximate side and a distal side, the proximate sidebeing adjacent to the reservoir cavity and defining an opening leadinginto a cavity, wherein the spring is inserted into the cavity in thesealing ring.
 19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the spring isenclosed within the sealing ring.
 20. The apparatus of claim 12, whereinthe drive gear has external threads, and wherein the at least oneplunger slider has internal threads positioned to be engaged by theexternal threads of the drive gear and is adapted to be linearlyactuated by rotation of the external threads of the drive gear.